Category: Dailies

NFL says no swap planned for Vikings-Packers

The Twins face a potential scheduling conflict should they finish the regular season tied with the Tigers atop the American League Central and earn home field advantage for the one-game tiebreaker, which would typically be scheduled for the Monday after the regular season ends.

Yet there is already a Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings contest scheduled to take place at the Metrodome on that Monday, Oct. 5.

Green Bay hosts the Vikings on Nov. 1, and there had been speculation that perhaps the dates could be swapped to accommodate the one-game baseball playoff.

But on Monday, NFL spokesman Dan Masonson told The Associated Press that next month’s Packers-Vikings game will not be moved.

“There is no swap under consideration,” Masonson said in an e-mail to the AP. “We are closely monitoring the situation.”

Of course, there is still a lot to be done if the Twins are to force a one-game playoff. The Twins currently sit three games back of the first-place Tigers with 13 games left to play — including four head-to-head matchups between the two clubs. Minnesota currently leads the season series with Detroit, 9-5.

Going for a sweep: Twins vs. Tigers 9/20

The Twins have a chance to pull within one game of the Tigers if they can complete the series sweep at the Metrodome this afternoon. Otherwise, they’ll trail Detroit by three games with 13 contests remaining, including four head-to-head matchups at Comerica Park.

A victory would also extend the Twins season-long winning streak to seven games and move the Twins

Before the game, manager Ron Gardenhire said that Joe Crede will have another back surgery next week so the third baseman is officially done for the year. It’s a tough thing for  Crede, as it’s his third surgery in three years to repair a herniated L5 disk in his lower back. He’s obviously frustrated by the whole thing and for a guy who plays as hard as he does, you can’t help but feel for him as he gets set to undergo yet another procedure.

Another bit of news that Gardenhire passed along is that the Twins won’t alter their pitching rotation following Thursday’s off day. So here is how the pitching matchups will look for the upcoming 10-game roadtrip.

Chicago: Nick Blackburn, Jeff Manship, Brian Duensing
Kansas City: Carl Pavano, Scott Baker, Blackburn
Detroit: Manship, Duensing, Pavano, Baker

Here are today’s lineups:

Tigers (78-70)
1st place in AL Central
Curtis Granderson, CF
Placido Polanco, 2B
Marcus Thames, DH
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Carlos Guillen, LF
Brandon Inge, 3B
Gerald Laird, C
Ramon Santiago, SS
Pitching: LHP Nate Robertson (1-2, 5.35)

Twins (76-72)
2nd place in AL Central, 2 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, DH
Matt Tolbert, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker (13-8, 4.35)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

Going for a sixth straight win: Twins vs. Tigers 9/19

The Twins started off their series against the Tigers last night with their fifth straight win — matching the club’s longest winning streak of the season.

Now they’ll try to see if Carl Pavano can improve his record against the Tigers this season to 5-0 and pull the club within two games of first-place Detroit.

UPDATE: Thanks to fellow MLB.com writer Jason Beck, who covers the Tigers, I learned that Pavano will try to become the first pitcher to beat Detroit five times in one season since Joe Mays did it in 2001.

Here are today’s lineups:

Tigers (78-69)
1st place in AL Central
Curtis Granderson, CF
Placido Polanco, 2B
Carlos Guillen, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Aubrey Huff, DH
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Brandon Inge, 3B
Gerald Laird, C
Adam Everett, SS
Pitching: RHP Justin Verlander (16-8, 3.34)

Twins (75-72)
2nd place in AL Central, 3 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Jose Morales, DH
Brian Buscher, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (12-11, 4.91)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

The showdown begins: Twins vs. Tigers 9/18

Here are today’s lineups:

Tigers (78-68)
1st place in AL Central
Ryan Raburn, LF
Placido Polanco, 2B
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Marcus Thames, DH
Brandon Inge, 3B
Curtis Granderson, CF
Gerald Laird, C
Adam Everett, SS
Pitching: RHP Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.21)

Twins (74-72)
2nd place in AL Central, 4 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Jose Morales, DH
Matt Tolbert, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing (3-1, 3.53)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

Morneau gets a breather

UPDATE: Jason Kubel was scratched from today’s lineup with a sore neck. Kubel was originally in the lineup in right field and Denard Span in center. But Carlos Gomez is now in the lineup at CF and Span shifts to RF.

Justin Morneau is not in the lineup today as he’s battling a stiff back and a sore wrist, manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Morneau dove head-first into first base on Friday night trying to avoid a tag, and Gardenhire thinks that probably took a little toll on the first baseman. Perhaps it’s also a good time to give a mental break to Morneau, who is 3-for-39 (.077) since the start of September.

“He’s your ultimate gamer on the field,” Gardenhire said of Morneau. “He’s really fighting through everything right now.”

Joe Crede is also back in the lineup as the DH for the Twins.

Here are today’s lineups:

A’s (63-77)
4th place in AL West, 21 games back
Rajai Davis, CF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Scott Hairston, LF
Nomar Garciaparra, 1B
Bobby Crosby, 3B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Landon Powell, C
Cliff Pennington, SS
Pitching: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-5, 5.76)

Twins (70-72)
3rd place in AL Central, 5.5 games back
Denard Span, RF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Joe Crede, DH
Brendan Harris, 3B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing (2-1, 3.94)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

Gardy likes the look of the bullpen

Just a few weeks ago, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire stressed how important it was for his club to address its bullpen situation this offseason.

But after the bullpen had been an area of concern for much of the past two seasons, lately it’s been going through a resurgence. That’s in part due to general manager Bill Smith adding some extra pieces to the mix last month.

The acquisitions of Jon Rauch and Ron Mahay, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, have added some veteran presence to Minnesota’s relief corps. Combine that with Matt Guerrier’s emergence as a solid eighth inning option, Jesse Crain’s rebound since returning from the Minor Leagues and Jose Mijares now figuring out how to get right-handed hitters out, and Gardenhire has been pleased recently be what he’s seen from the group.

“We struggled early out of the bullpen,” Gardenhire said, “but I think good things have happened.”

With Rauch signed through 2010, Pat Neshek and Boof Bonser as options to challenge for spots as they are set to return in Spring Training following surgeries and some young starters like Anthony Swarzak and Brian Duensing in the mix if they don’t make the starting rotation, the club’s bullpen is already looking to have plenty of options for next season.

“I think we’re going to have lots of good
competition,” said Gardenhire. “It should be fun.”

That’s not to say Gardenhire doesn’t want other options. The Twins still could be looking for one more left-handed reliever for 2010, which could be Mahay as Gardenhire said he’d like to have the lefty back, and perhaps another arm in long relief.

“I like the arms [we have].” Gardenhire said. “Can you use more? Always.”

Neshek getting ready to throw off mound

I chatted with Pat Neshek yesterday at the Metrodome, as he was in town to see Twins physician Dr. Dan Buss.

The visit was for Neshek, who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery last November, to get clearance to begin throwing off a mound.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Saturday that Neshek did indeed get clearance, although he’ll start by throwing just fastballs at first and working up to throwing breaking pitches again.

Neshek said that with his current program he’ll be “game-ready” by mid-November but the plan is not to have him pitch any winter ball. Instead, he’ll remain in Fort Myers during the winter to work with Twins Minor League rehab coordinator Lanny Tucker so that he’ll be ready to go at the start of Spring Training.

While everything has been going well in his rehab process, Neshek said he’s had a mild case of tendinitis in his right elbow. But he spoke with a couple other Twins pitchers who had Tommy John, Carl Pavano and Jeff Manship, and both told Neshek that it’s normal for that to happen in the recovery process.

“There is nothing wrong with the ligament where i had the surgery,” Neshek said. “The doctors say that’s really strong. So I can work with a little tendinitis.”

Having not pitched for the Twins since May 2008, Neshek acknowledges that this process hasn’t been completely easy on him. But he’s looking forward to finally getting back with the team in February.

“It’s a long road,” Neshek said. “I’m just taking it day by day
right now. I just want to feel like I felt [before the elbow injury] and it’s starting to feel like that already. I have
no clue how my arm’s going to respond. If it goes according to plan,
I’ll be good to go in Spring Training.”

College football and a noon Saturday game

The University of Minnesota Gophers may no longer play in the Metrodome, but that didn’t mean the Twins were unaffected by the college football schedule. Today’s game was made a noon contest so that the Twins didn’t interfere with the home opener of TCF Stadium. The big difference? No 11 a.m. start time and there’s no way this game is postponed if it goes past a certain time today.

Here are today’s lineups:

A’s (63-77)
4th place in AL West, 22 games back
 

Adam Kennedy, 3B
Rajai Davis, CF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Jack Cust, DH
Scott Hairston, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Daric Barton, 1B
Eric Patterson, RF
Cliff Pennington, SS

Pitching: LHP Brett Anderson (8-10, 4.45)

Twins (70-71)
2nd place in AL Central, 5.5 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, DH
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, LF
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Brendan Harris, 3B
Mike Redmond, C
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Jeff Manship (0-0, 4.41)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

Au revoir Canada: Thursday lineups

The Twins are trying to capture the series victory when they close out their four-game set with the Blue Jays this afternoon and Scott Baker will try to see if he can extend his winning streak to eight games.

It was a pretty slow day in terms of news. Perhaps a little bit of Halladay hangover from the club’s first ever win over Toronto’s ace.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire did say that Joe Crede might get a DH day this weekend against the A’s. Oakland will throw lefties Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez in the final two games so perhaps Crede will DH in one of those contests.

Here are today’s lineups:

Twins (70-69)
2nd place in AL Central, 5.5 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, DH
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker (13-7, 4.34)

Blue Jays (62-77)
4th place in AL East, 28 games back

Joe Inglett, 2B
Travis Snider, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
Randy Ruiz, DH
Jose Bautista, CF
Raul Chavez, C
John McDonald, SS

Pitching: LHP Brett Cecil (6-4, 5.46)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

Wednesday Lineups: Twins at Blue Jays

Michael Cuddyer is getting a little breather today while manager Ron Gardenhire shuffles the lineup a bit to get Joe Mauer in the DH spot. With Cuddyer out, Kubel is in right field. And yes, for those of you who were aware of yesterday’s lineup mixup, that’s accurate this time.

Francisco Liriano has been activated from the disabled list but he won’t be available out of the bullpen until tomorrow.

As for Joe Crede, Gardenhire said that he’s not ready to start in the field right now. The belief is that if Crede were to dive in the field, his back probably would not be able to handle that yet. So instead, Crede is being looked at as a pinch-hitter or perhaps a DH option against a left-handed pitcher.

The Twins have a stiff test in Toronto tonight as they face Roy Halladay, who is 8-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his career against Minnesota. There aren’t many Twins with strong numbers against Halladay with the exception of Delmon Young, who is 6-for-14 (.429). So Young is in left field again tonight.

Here are today’s lineups:

Twins (69-69)
2nd place in AL Central, 6.5 games back
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, DH
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Brian Buscher, 3B
Jose Morales, C
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (11-11, 5.09)

Blue Jays (62-76)
4th place in AL East, 27 games back

Marco Scutaro, SS
Jose Bautista, RF
Adam Lind, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Vernon Wells, CF
Rod Barajas, C
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
John McDonald, 2B

Pitching: RHP Roy Halladay (14-8, 2.98)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier